Izaak Opatz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Izaak John Opatz |
| Born | May 6, 1987 Whitefish, Montana, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, guitarist |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, keyboard |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | izaakopatz |
Izaak John Opatz (born May 6, 1987) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is known for his solo career, and his work with the band The Best Westerns.
Opatz was born at home in Whitefish, Montana. His parents, then in their 20s, were out-of-staters who met during a summer they both worked in Glacier National Park. Opatz said he'd always hoped the same would happen to him. [1]
He started playing and writing with a friend for fun in high school. He studied English at The University of Montana, and ended up with a double major in creative writing and forestry.
He's spent summers working with trail crews in Glacier National Park, heading into the backcountry for up to 10 days at a time to clear trail and repair bridges and retaining walls.
Opatz is a singer-songwriter who also plays a variety of instruments. He has described his sound as “Nora Ephron Rom-Com-earnestness with a sense of humor.” His album Mariachi Static (which takes its title from a lyric in Warren Zevon’s “Carmelita”), produced by Malachi DeLorenzo, is an easygoing listen, driven by Opatz’s sublime way with a lyric. He's opened for Langhorne Slim and James McMurtry, and toured with Traveller, which counts Opatz’s erstwhile mentor, and fellow Montanan, Jonny Fritz as a member. [2]
Founded in 2011, Optaz's country-rock band, the Best Westerns, earned a following among both rock and roots fans, playing everything from bars in small towns like Coram to a gig at the Wilma Theatre. A group of friends from Missoula, they started a country and western band primarily so they could sing while wearing cowboy hats. In their songs, The Best Westerns claim to "walk the line" between their appreciation for Western mythology, and their slice-of-life portrayals of modern life. [3] In 2014, they released their debut album, “High Country” at a show at the Top Hat Lounge. The 10-track record features all original songs by lead singer and guitarist, Opatz. [4]
Opatz released his debut solo album Mariachi Static on February 11, 2017. The album was recorded in Los Angeles, and was inspired by Mojave desert camping excursions, life on a Glacier National Park trail crew, late night ping-pong tournaments and love. [5]
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, had to cancel an upcoming multi-state tour with 16 dates. [6] He returned to his previous summer job of working on the trail crews in Glacier National Park, as well as participating in multiple live-streaming events.
On December 11, 2020, Opatz released Hot & Heavy-Handed, an album that features nine covers from the likes of Clint Black, Mark Chesnutt and Dierks Bentley with two of Opatz’s original tracks. [7] The covers, recreated with an indie rock style invoke a nostalgia for country lovers while being fresh enough to encourage new listeners unfamiliar with the genre. The cover of “Drunk on a Plane” received notoriety from Rolling Stone Magazine’s country music picks for the week of Nov. 23, stating that his cover, “understands the song’s pitiful core even better than the original. When Opatz sings, 'I'm up so high, I may never come down,' it sounds as hard-to-believe as ever.” [8]
Opatz released Extra Medium, his third studio album, on April 29, 2022. [9]
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | US Indie | ||
| Mariachi Static |
| — | — | — |
| Hot & Heavy-Handed |
| — | — | — |
| Extra Medium |
| — | — | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Bathing in the Ganges "Duck Lake Road" and "Carmelita" | Mama Bird Recording Co. |
| 2020 | Goin' Through the Big D | Mama Bird Recording Co. |
| 2021 | Chinook Wind | Mama Bird Recording Co. |
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | "Got to Me Since" | Ken Grinde |
| 2018 | "Limited Liability" | Austin Scarpino |
| 2018 | "Duck Lake Road" | Michael T. Workman |
| 2019 | "Not Yet" | Michael T. Workman |
| 2021 | "What Are Those Things (with Big Black Wings)" | Kendall Rock |
| 2022 | "Wild-Eyed George Bailey Heebie Jeebies" | Aaron Curry |
| 2022 | "Shampoo" | Kendall Rock |
| 2022 | "In the Light of a Love Affair" | Aaron Curry |
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